Balsams & Resinoids

Balsam is material that exudes from the plant part and usually of a gummy treacle consistency. Balsam material will nearly always contain benzoic acid which is commonly used as a preservative in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Resinoid materials are generally semi solid to solid and are obtained from the resin by use of hydrocarbon solvents including benzene and hexane. Both Balsam and Resinoid materials comprise of a volatile chemistry, have very high boiling points and lend themselves very well as fixatives for perfumers. In theory all are easily soluble in alcohol.